Burner grate for gas ranges



Feb. 20, was 1.5. YOUNG, JR 3,36 5 7 BURNER GRATE FOR GAS RANGES I Filed July 18, 1966 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR "2% 57 x466 )60 J72 MAL/Ml 27m ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1968 l. YOUNG, JR 3,369,537

BURNER GRATE FOR GAS RANGES Filed July 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR Q MMQ k mb ATTORNEYS 3,369,537 BURNER GRATE FOR GAS RANGES Ira Bruce Young, Jr., 4215 Cromwell Road, Box 8247, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37403 Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 566,102 12 Claims. (Cl. 126-215) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A burner grate structure for a cook-top and forming a cooking vessel support comprises a circular frame carrying three grid units in concentric spaced relation thereto. Each grid unit is made up of a rod bent to V-form. The units have their apeXes arranged about the center of the frame with the arms thereof extending outwardly radially to an extremity beyond the frame. The arms at their extremity are reversely bent downwardly in radical planes to form upper and lower parallel arm portions. The lower arm portion of one arm of each unit is spaced farther from the upper arm portion than the lower and upper arm portions of the other arm, whereby said grate makes only three-point contact with the surface of the cook-top.

The present invention relates to improvements in gas cook stoves or cooking ranges and is directed particularly to improvements in the receptacle supporting grates thereof.

In gas ranges of present or conventional construction the cooking top or area may have for each burner unit, a. depressed or lowered recessed area with an open center through which the flame from the underlying burner is projected upwardly against the bottom of a receptacle. Within this recessed area is set a removable grate which supports a cooking receptacle over the gas burner.

Grates of the construction at present in use, adapted to be supported in or to rest in a recess in the cooking top of the range or stove, possess many undesirable features by reason of the design or construction thereof.

Among the various features of gas range grates of the type at present in use, which the present invention over comes, are hazard forming terminals of the vessel support portions of the grate; the transmission from such vessel supporting portions of the grate of heat directly to the cooking top of the stove; the tendency of the grates to warp as a result of the intense heating to which they are subjected; the failure to provide a level or stable surface upon which the cooking vessel may rest, resulting therefore in a tendency of the cooking vessel to slip or shift on the grate, as well as failure of the grate to rest firmly or be supported firmly upon the cooking top against wabbling or shifting etc.

The present invention has for a principal object to provide a new and improved grate for gas ranges which definitely overcomes the various undesirable features of present grate structures, in addition to providing other novel and desirable features.

One specific object of the present invention is to provide a grate structure in which the vessel engaging or supporting portion thereof is designed in a novel manner to eliminate the usual hazard forming terminals which conventionally rest at the outer portion or perimeter of the grate, directly upon the cooking top of the range.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a grate structure of a design whereby any desired height for the top of the grate above the cook-top of States Patent the stove, may be easily obtained in the construction of the grate to meet various specifications of stove manufacturers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved grate structure designed to reduce to a minimum the warping elfect of the heat to which the grate is subjected while in use on the stove.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a grate structure which reduces the transfer of heat to the cook-top of the range, by reason of the novel construction of the grate in the outer perimeter thereof or in this outer portion which conventionally rests directly upon the top of the stove.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a grate structure of the character described, a receptacle supporting grid which, in the use of the grate structure, will be spaced from or lie in a plane above the cooking top of the range and having means at the outer perimeter of the grid for effecting dissipation of heat from between the grid at the outer portion thereof and the cooking top or cook-top surface of the range.

More particularly the means referred to in the preceding paragraph for dissipating heat from the outer portion of the grid and away from the cooking top of the range, embodies reverted terminal portions of outwardly extending legs of the grid structure, which reverted terminal portions are spaced from the undersides of the legs and have rigid connection inwardly of the outer end portions of such legs, with a supporting frame.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a burner grate structure of the character described having a substantially horizontal grid means for supporting cooking receptacles, which grid means is joined to an underlying supporting part of the grate in a manner to compensate for expansion of parts of the grid means whereby to avoid buckling thereof and a consequent production or formation of an unstable receptacle supporting surface or, in other words, a receptacle supporting surface which would cause a receptacle resting thereon to wabble.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a View in top plan of a grate structure constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention and showing the same in position upon a cook-top.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken subtantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale and in a vertical plane looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale and in a vertical plane looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding substantially to FIG. 5 but showing a slight modification in the provision of a holding lug engaging an aperture in the cooktop.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in top plan a portion of a cooking top or cook-top which is generally designated 10 and which is provided with at least two wells or recesses, one only of which is here illustrated, and Which well or recess is designated 12. This is a conventional cook-top structure.

The cook-top top surface is designated 14 and is suitably flanged as at 16 for positioning in a receiving area, not shown, of the top of a range body, not shown.

As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recess or well 12 has a bottom or floor 18 disposed in a horizontal plane below the surface 14 and joinedto the top of the cook-top structure by the rounded or substantially quarter-circular wall 20. In the central portion of the recess or well is formed the opening 22 in which, or below which, is positioned in concentric relation with the opening, the burner head 24.

At a certain distance radially outwardly from the perimeter of the recess 12 the cook-top is providedvat diametrically opposite points with apertures 26. This is conven tional in known forms of the cook-top and the apertures are utilized to receive holding or securing means of a burner grate overlying the Well.

The burner grate structure of the present invention may also be provided with means for engagement in the apertures 26 as will be hereinafter set forth, to maintain the grate in a desired position.

As illustrated, the well or recess 12 is preferably of-cir-.

cular form or outline and the burner grate structure is, in part, preferably of circular form to be received in the recess; However, it is to be understood that in illustrating the recess and in the burner grate structure to be described, the circular formationof the recess and the grate structure part positioned or adapted to be positioned therein is not to be construed as limiting the invention as obviously modification of the configuration of the recess may be made with the corresponding modification of the frame portion of the grate structure.

The burner grate of the present invention here illustrated in its preferred form is generally designated 28.

The grate structure comprises a base frame 30 here illustrated as being of circular or annular formation in the well or recess 12.

Carried by the frame 30 is a grid which is generally designated 32 and which is hereinafter described in detail. This grid when in working position is supported by the cook-top in the manner hereinafter described and extends over or covers an area, the outer limits of which extend beyond the perimeter of the recess or Well as is clearly shown in FIGS. '2 and 3.

The grid 32 is made up of a number of support units upon the tops of which a cooking receptacle rests or is supported and each of these units, generally designated 34, has a substantially V-form comprised of the relatively long arms 36 joined at the apex of the V by the curved bight portion 38.

The grid units 34 are disposed in a circular arrangement with the open part of the V directed outwardly. The bight portions 38 of the Vs are disposed in closely adjacent relationship at or in the central area or above the central area of the frame 30. Thus these inner end portions of the V units are directly above or adjacent to the center of the burner head 24 which lies beneath the grid when the grate structure is in operative position.

One arm of each of the grid units 34 is formed at its outer end portion with a return bend or return loop .40 while the other arm of the same unit is formed with a similar return bend or return loop 42. Thus when the grid units are assembled in the circular arrangement shown in FIG. 1 the return loops or bends 40 will alternate around the series of units with the return loops 42.

Each of the return loops 40 and 42 define a curve of at least 180 and each of the return loops joins, beneath the arm of which it forms an extension, the short horizontal leg portion which is directed radially inwardly of the grate structure.

For return loop or bend 40, the said short leg portion extending inwardly therefrom, is designated 44 and for the return bend or loop 42 the short leg portion is designated 46.

Each of the short leg portions 44 and 46 terminates in a short inwardly and downwardly extending foot extension. For each leg 44 this foot extension is designated 48 and for each leg 46 the said foot extension is designated 50..

Preferably these foot extensions 48 and 50-are disposed at an angle of approximately 45 and each lies over and rests upon the inner top side of the frame 30 to which it is secured in a suitable manner, preferably as by Welding as indicated at 52.

Certain of the return loops or return-bends are of an overall height from the topmost point thereof to the lower side of the underlying leg, which is slightly different from the overall height of the other return bends. This difference in height between the return bends 42, for example, and the return bends 40, is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4 the topmost point of the return bend 42 is designated or indicated at x and in FIG. 5 such topmost point is likewise designated by or indicated by the letter x and it will be seen that these points for the entire grid lie in a common horizontal plane which is designated y.

The overall height for the return bend 42, asshown in FIG. 4, lies between the plane y and the plane y and such a wall height is designated by the broken line x.

In FIG. 5 the overall height of the return bend 40 lies between the plane y and the plane y. This overall height being designated by the broken line x".

The line y designates in connection with each of the legs 46, the bottom or plane of the bottom of that leg while the corresponding line y" designates the plane of the bottom of each of the other legs. Thus it will be seen that the overall height of the return bends 40 is somewhat greater than that of the return bends 42; In

either case, however, the topmost points of the arms and the vertical bends, designated x, are the samevertical distance from the plane of line y". This is true also of the vertical distance from the plane of line y and that of the base ring 30.

As stated, the return bend loops 40 and the loops 42 are of difierent height or overall thickness. The purpose of this is to provide a uniform surface area on topfor the support of a receptacle and at the same time provide a three-point suspension for the grate when .it is placed.

in position on the cook-top, that is, inthe position shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This feature is considered essential by providing a tripod effect to eliminate rocking condition of the burner grate on the cook-top. Gas range manufacturers have difliculty in producing a range top which is perfectly flat. Accordingly with the present invention a compensating feature is incorporated in the burner grate to provide a sturdy vessel support. The small difference in the overall size of the loops or return bends 40 and 42 provide this feature.

By the provision of the circular baseto substantially fit within the circular area of the wall 20 of the well or recess 12, together with the extension of the arms 36.

outwardly a substantial distance beyond the base and then returning in the return bends 40 and 42 and the legs 44 and 46, it will be seen that the overall diameter or the perimeter of the circular area defined by the entire grid structure is materially greater than! the well or recess so that the legs 44 and 46 may rest upon the surface 14 of the cook-top. The legs thus provide bearing surface for the entire grate upon the range cook-top.

The return loops or return bends also provide the feature of establishing, in the manufacture of the grate, any desired height for the top of the burner grate or the top of the grid, above the cook-top to meet any stove manufactures specifications. Also, the fact that the extremely small radius of the return bend loop is on the extreme outer part of the grate or at the perimeter of the grate, materially reduces heat influence on the grate while in use and also reduces the transfer of heat from the grate to the cook-top of the range in use.

The downward extension or deflection of the terminal or foot portions 48 and 50 provides a means for attaching the grid units to the base ring, by welding, below the area of extreme heat to which the grate is subjected when in use. This feature reduces the probability of deformation or warpage of the entire grate from the heat of the burner head 20 when the grate is in use. Also, the location of the frame in its position within the well or recess provides a holding effect for maintaining the grate in place.

As an additional feature for maintaining the grate in position, use may be made of the apertures 26 in the cook-top, by providing certain of the return bend legs, such as the leg 44 of the return bend 40, with a fixed downwardly extending stud 54 as shown in FIG. 6. As this leg 44 of one of the return bends 4t rests upon the surface 14 of the cook-top, it will be seen that it may be readily introduced into the opening 26, such opening being suitably spaced radially outwardly from the edge of the well or recess to receive the stud.

While the frame or base 30 and the units 34 are preferably formed of rod or heavy wire material of suitable diameter, the base frame 30 may, if desired, be fashioned from material of square cross section or of any other desired cross sectional configuration.

Preferably the rod material forming the base 30 is of slightly larger diameter than the rod material used in the formation of the units 34. The reason for the use of the heavier gauge material in the base frame is to further stabilize the grate structure under the influence of the heat to which it is subjected. While the vessel supporting units 34 do become red hot in the central area of the grate structure in which the bight portions of the units are located, the heat diminishes as it progresses toward the perimeter of the grate structure. Thus the use of light metal in the center of the grate structure and heavier metal and tight bends in the outer areas of heat tend to confine the heat where it is desired, that is, on the vessel supported on the grid and not on the grid or grate structure itself For the purpose of insuring maximum stability of a vessel resting upon the grate structure, or more accurately resting upon the units 34, the central part of the grate structure is slightly depressed below the plane of the topmost points x of the arms 36.

The broken line y, hereinbefore referred to, designates the plane touching the outermost ends or points x of the arms and it will be seen that from these points x the arms or inner ends or apex portions of the V units dip or slope slightly toward the center of the burner structure. This depressed central portion provides for the stable support of a cooking vessel of any diameter when placed upon the grid. If the vessel is of a diameter materially greater than the overall diameter of the grate it will rest on the high points x or for a smaller diameter it will rest upon the tops of the arms at points moved inwardly from the points x. This result is assured even under the high temperatures to which the grate is subjected in use. It will be obvious that should the area of the grid lying within the area defined by the points x, be raised above the plane of line y, due to expansion of the metal by heat, a vessel resting upon the units would tend to rock or wabble. Under use, the heating of the grate structure in the area of the inner ends of apexes of the units 34, which heating will be more intense than at the perimeter, will tend to create an expansion problem since the expanded metal must move in some direction or, in other words, go somewhere. Since the units are secured by the tight or small return bends or loops at the perimeter of the structure and then welded outside of the high heat area, no part of the grate structure can move except throughout the radius of the central area defined by the inner ends of the V-shaped units. Thus, this area in which the inner end portions of the V units lie, must already be deflected in the cold state in the direction where the expected movement will do the least damage. This method of controlling the expansion problem in this structure has proved highly satisfactory under test.

While any suitable metal may be employed in the construction of the grate, the metal of the wire preferred for use in constructing the grate structure is of the type known as cold drawn, bright basic rod or wire. Preferably the size of the rod forming the base 30 is number 2 gauge (.2625 diameter), and the size of the three main support unit rods is number 3 gauge (.2437 diameter).

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim.

1. A burner grate for a gas range, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the cook-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting" grid having a planar vessel supporting area greater than the overall area of said frame, and

(c) connecting means between the rigidly integral with said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid means spaced above said frame and out of contact with the cook-top of the range,

((1) said grid means comprising three units disposed around the center of'said frame, each unit having an inner portion,

(c) said inner portions of the units having ends in spaced relatively close relationship adjacent to a central area of said frame,

(f) said inner portion of each unit including at least two arms extending divergently outwardly from said central area beyond the perimeter of the frame and defining by their outer ends of the outer limits of said planar vessel supporting area, and

(g) the outer ends of only one of said arms of each unit having means therebene'ath for direct support engagement with the surface of the cook-top.

2. A burner grate for a gas range, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the cook-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid having a vessel supporting area greater than the over-all area of said frame,

(0) connecting means between and rigidly integral with said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid means spaced above said frame and out of contact with the cook-top of the range,

(d) said grid means comprising a plurality of units disposed in a group around the center of said frame, and

' (e) the said units each embodying arm portions extending outwardly and having outer end portions extending beyond said frame and said connecting means comprising short legs extending inwardly from said outer end portions of said arm portions.

3. A burner grate structure according to claim 2, wherein:

(a) said legs lie beneath and spaced from the said terminal portions of said arm portions.

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the cook-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid having a vessel supporting area greater than the overall area of said frame,

(c) connecting means between and rigidly integral with said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid means spaced above said frame and out of contact with the cook-top of the range,

(d) said vessel supporting area of said grid means defining the outermost limits of the grid means, and (c) said grid means is centrally depressed relative to a horizontal plane touching the grid means at said outermost limits.

5. A burner grate for a gas range, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the cook-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid having a vessel supporting area greater than the overall area of said frame,

() connecting means between and rigidly integral with said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid meansspaced above said frame and out of contact with the cook-top of the range,

(d) said grid means comprises a plurality of units disposed around the center of said frame, each unit having an inner portion,

(c) said inner portions of the units having ends in spaced relatively close relationship adjacent to a central area of said frame,

(1) said inner portion of each unit including at least two arms extending divergently outwardly from said central area beyond the perimeter of the frame and defining by their outer ends the outer limits of said vessel supporting area, and

(g) said connecting means comprising an extension of each of said arms turning down and back in a substantially closed loop and continuing in a short leg underlying and spaced from the arm and forming bearing means for engaging the surface of the cooktop.

6. A burner grate according to claim 5, wherein:

(a) the topmost points of saidarms from said frame at the outer extremities of the arms, lie in a common plane and the vertical dimension from said common plane to the lower side of one leg of each unit is greater than the vertical dimension from said-common plane to the lower side of the other leg of the same unit, the said one legs of the unitsbeing of the same vertical dimension and alternating with the said other legs, which said other legs are of the same vertical dimension whereby to provide stabilization of the grate upon, and in compensation for, an unlevel cook-top surface upon which the legs of the units rest when the grate is in use.

7. A burner grate for a gas range, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the cook-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid having a vessel supporting area greater than the overall area of said frame, (c) connecting means between and rigidly integral with said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid means spaced above said frame and out of contact with the cook-top of the range,

' (d) a range cook-top having a recess therein including a floor portion below said cook-top having a central opening therein,

(e) said recess having a certain contour,

(f) means joining said floor with the cook-top,

(g) said grate frame having a configuration conforming to the said certain contour of the recess and resting upon said floor,

(h) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid comprising a plurality of substantially V-shaped unitS disposed above the frame with the apexes thereof in closely assembled spaced relation over the central portion of the frame,

(i) the arms of the V-shaped units extending radially outwardly above the frame and beyond the perimeter thereof,

(j) said arms having a reverted outer end portion forming a shortleg extending inwardly and spaced from the arm,

(k) each leg terminating in a downwardly angled portion secured across the frame,

(1) said angled terminal portions of the legs positioning the legs at an elevation from the floor of the recess to rest at least two of the legs upon the top surface of the cook-top when the frame is in operative position upon said floor of the recess.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein:

(a) said recess contour is circular.

9. A burner grate for a gas range, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid frame adapted to be supported by the c0ok-top of a range in a substantially horizontal plane above and in a centralized relationship with a burner head,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid having a vessel supporting area greater than the overall area of said frame,

(0) connecting means between and rigidly integralwith said frame and grid means adapted to maintain said grid means spaced above said frame and out of.

contact with the cook-top of the range;

(d) a range cook-top having a recess therein including a floor portion below said cook-top having a central opening therein,

(c) said recess having a certain contour,

(f) means joining said floor with the cook-top;

(g) said grate frame having a configuration conforming to said recess contour and resting upon said floor,

(b) means forming a cooking vessel supporting grid comprising a plurality of substantially V-shaped units (m) means interconnecting at least two of said legs with the cook-top outwardly of said recess. 10. The invention as defined by claim fi, wherein said interconnecting means between the cook-top and said legs consists of a stud carried by the leg engaging in an aperture in the cook-top.

11. The invention as defined by claim 9, wherein said units, said legs and said frame are of rod or wire form and of different diameters, the rod diameter of the frame being slightly greater than the rod diameter of the unit arms and legs.

12. The invention as defined by. claim 11, wherein the 9 10 material of the arms of the units, the legs and the base is FOREIGN PATENTS cold drawn, bright basic rod or wire.

1,135,004 12/1956 France.

References Cited JAMES W. WESTI-IAVER, Primary Examiner. 5717 1 S ZFATES PATENTS 6 214 5 FREDERICK L. MA'ITESON, 111., Examiner. 2, 4 19 1 ayer 12 2, 32,436 3 1953 Williams 2 .414 FAVORS, Assistant Exammer- 3,263,676 8/1966 Kamin 126-215 

